The bomb blasts took place across Mumbai over a span of three months, killing 12 and leaving over 27 people seriously injured. (File photo)
A special Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) court today convicted 10 accused and acquitted three others in a case pertaining to three bomb blasts that rocked Mumbai between December 2002 and March 2003, killing 12 people. The quantum of sentence in the case will be announced tomorrow.
Those convicted, including Saquib Nachen, a former general secretary of the banned outfit Students Islamic Movement of India, were held guilty under various sections of the POTA, Indian Penal Code, the Arms Act, Explosive Substances Act and the Railways Act.
"The people who were injured, dead or were affected by the blasts, they have been served justice. After working very hard, the investigation team has been successful, so the investigation team should be congratulated," said Sachin Waze, a former police officer.
The court acquitted Nadeem Paloba, Harun Lohar and Adnan Mulla.
The bomb blasts took place across Mumbai over a span of three months, killing 12 and leaving over 27 people seriously injured. The first blast took place on December 6, 2002, at McDonald's restaurant in the main building premises of the Mumbai Central railway station, the second one on January 27, 2003 in a crowded market in Vile Parle East followed by an explosion in a Karjat-bound local train at the Mulund railway station on March 13, 2003.
16 people were arrested in the case of which 15 were granted bail in 2011. Muzammil Ansari, an engineer who has been found guilty of planting bombs at the locations, was refused bail on several occasions.